KC-135R "Soda 81 Heavy"

Spectre · 12-28-2007, 10:44 PM

KC-135R
59-1499
Tennessee ANG, 134 ARW/ 151st ARS

"Soda 81 Heavy, cleared the option Runway 23 Right"

blueangel_78 · 12-28-2007, 11:23 PM

Neat shots! I like how you got the strobe on the second shot and the lighting on the third.

Sagar

Spectre · 12-28-2007, 11:28 PM

Thank you!!

I am having a hell of a time editing... My old CRT is starting to give fits and will no longer keep calibration...so I am guessing for most of the pictures.

I guess I have to pinch out of my "next lens or body" fund for a new LCD soon

blueangel_78 · 12-28-2007, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectre

Thank you!!
I am having a hell of a time editing... My old CRT is starting to give fits and will no longer keep calibration...so I am guessing for most of the pictures.

I guess I have to pinch out of my "next lens or body" fund for a new LCD soon

Well, they are a slight bit dark on my end. If it helps.

Spectre · 12-28-2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueangel_78

Well, they are a slight bit dark on my end. If it helps.

Yes that does help... I will go back ant tweak them.

thanks for the constructive criticism Sagar

Spectre · 12-29-2007, 06:29 AM

Sagar,

How do you do your post processing? What work-flow steps do you do, in what order?

champpitbull2 · 12-29-2007, 11:14 AM

Spectre, You're a C-130 FE correct? Do you work on the Tenn. ANG C-130's?

Spectre · 12-29-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by champpitbull2

Spectre, You're a C-130 FE correct? Do you work on the Tenn. ANG C-130's?

I'm a former FE. I was medically outed/ DNIF (Duties not including flying) in 2006.

blueangel_78 · 12-29-2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectre

Sagar,
How do you do your post processing? What work-flow steps do you do, in what order?

Well, here is what I do. To preface it, I shoot in RAW and use Photoshop CS3.

So I open the raw file in CS3 and it immediatly opens it up in the raw converter.

In there I do a majority of my editing. I usually just follow the order of the items.

White Balance
Exposure
Saturation
Blacks
Curves
level the picture out so it's straight
Crop if needed

Then I import the file into PS.

First I do a pass of the Smart Sharpen
If it has spots from sensor dust, I create a new contrast layer, adjust it so i can see the dust, go back to the background layer, use the clone tool to remove them, then delete the contrast layer.
Then Levels
Color adjustment

--Save the file as a psd

Resize as needed (for web, print, blog, anet, etc)
Run my copyright action if I need it
Last pass of Smart Sharpen.
Save for web if it's going to the web or save as jpg level 12 for print, level 10 for anet.

And that's it.

I would recommend that you take a look at this for some ideas. I got my smart sharpening technique from there.

Fence Check | quick find index thread for post processing

HTH! Let me know if you have any questions.
Sagar

Spectre · 12-29-2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueangel_78

Well, here is what I do. To preface it, I shoot in RAW and use Photoshop CS3.

So I open the raw file in CS3 and it immediatly opens it up in the raw converter.

In there I do a majority of my editing. I usually just follow the order of the items.

White Balance
Exposure
Saturation
Blacks
Curves
level the picture out so it's straight
Crop if needed

Then I import the file into PS.

First I do a pass of the Smart Sharpen
If it has spots from sensor dust, I create a new contrast layer, adjust it so i can see the dust, go back to the background layer, use the clone tool to remove them, then delete the contrast layer.
Then Levels
Color adjustment

--Save the file as a psd

Resize as needed (for web, print, blog, anet, etc)
Run my copyright action if I need it
Last pass of Smart Sharpen.
Save for web if it's going to the web or save as jpg level 12 for print, level 10 for anet.

And that's it.

I would recommend that you take a look at this for some ideas. I got my smart sharpening technique from there.

Fence Check | quick find index thread for post processing

HTH! Let me know if you have any questions.
Sagar

Do you know if it matters if you do noise reduction before or after you sharpen? Also, Do you shoot with any sharpening in camera or is it set to zero...then do sharpening all in CS3?

Thanks for the pointers and the time you took to help me out.

Todd

blueangel_78 · 12-29-2007, 03:32 PM

No worries at all! If I know it, I'll be happy to help.

And in this case I don't know the answer. I don't use any noise reduction. Actually I don't own any.

I'm sure if I had it, I may try it out. But for now, I just shoot at 100iso.

No in camera sharpening. My friend who shoots w/ a Nikon does apply a little and it works really well with his shots. But I know that he does a little extra work on his images; namely he'll mask out the entire airplane and apply a little sharpening to just the plane and it helps make it really stand out from the background. I am going to try and start doing that, but it'll add a lot of time.

S

TheRightSide · 12-29-2007, 04:15 PM

Very nice shots. Was just up in knoxville.

blueangel_78 · 12-29-2007, 05:16 PM

Let's transfer this discussion to a seperate thread...that way we don't hijack you great thread.

Here's where I created the new one.

http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...-workflow.html

CREX, can you copy your post into that??

Sagar

B-16707 · 12-29-2007, 11:52 PM

Spectre! you are the same Spectre at POTN! whoohooo!

Spectre · 01-04-2008, 04:49 PM

Yep, thats me

Here is nother crop and reshapened of this babydoll...

Might still be dark

Must sell more little planes to buy a monitor that works

corby78 · 01-05-2008, 10:13 AM

Great looking shots....

D-AIHC · 01-05-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectre

KC-135R
59-1499
Tennessee ANG, 134 ARW/ 151st ARS

Thanks, Spectre! Keep the pics coming as it's always good to see some neat militray shots! I have two question:

1. What's the yellow strip under the centre of the KC-135 belly?
2. Is there always an ARW/ARS stationed on each US AFB?

Thanks! How about some pics of the real Spectre gunship itself "in action"...

blueangel_78 · 01-05-2008, 02:39 PM

Well, I'll give it a crack. The yellow line on the bottom of the fuselage is used to help the planes line up on the tanker for refueling. The two black lines either side just aft of the nose landing gear (Pilot landing lights - PDL) are lights kind of like a stop and go light. They also are used for communication so that refueling can be conducted in radio silence.

For more information about IFR, check this link out. It was given to me by a boomer some time back. Amazing detail and will answer all of your questions!

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafi...84C8BBDEA2.pdf

Sagar

Spectre · 01-05-2008, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueangel_78

Well, I'll give it a crack. The yellow line on the bottom of the fuselage is used to help the planes line up on the tanker for refueling. The two black lines either side just aft of the nose landing gear (Pilot landing lights - PDL) are lights kind of like a stop and go light. They also are used for communication so that refueling can be conducted in radio silence.

For more information about IFR, check this link out. It was given to me by a boomer some time back. Amazing detail and will answer all of your questions!

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafi...84C8BBDEA2.pdf

Sagar

Good info...

The pages in that PDF that reference the lighting are on page 9 and 10.

Spectre · 01-05-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-AIHC

Thanks, Spectre! Keep the pics coming as it's always good to see some neat militray shots! I have two question:

2. Is there always an ARW/ARS stationed on each US AFB?

Thanks! How about some pics of the real Spectre gunship itself "in action"...

Question ! was already answered...
Q2, I am nit sure what you are asking. Most ARW/ARS units are Guard units and most of those are based out od civilian bases around there USA... is that what you are asking? This unit is based out of KTYS (McGhee Tyson airport) just south west of Knoxville, Tennessee.

As far as pictures of the beloved gunships... I will have to scan some old negatives or pictures that I have from the mid-late 1990s. I left the 16th SOS in late 1999.

I have a cool series of shots from the end of the runway right over my head when we were in S. Korea... I would love to get those fixed and uploaded.

now, have to find out were the wife dumped them

blueangel_78 · 01-05-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-AIHC

2. Is there always an ARW/ARS stationed on each US AFB?

On my way out, but let me put this out there.

ARW = Air Refueling Wing
ARS = Air Refueling Squadron.

Well, the answer is no. Each base does not have it's own dedicated unit/squadron for refueling. For example, here in California, there are two; one up at Travis AFB, and one down at March AFB. That being said, there are ARS in both the US Air Force and US Air Force Reserves that handle the refueling role. There are numerous aerial refueling tracks across the United States. So they just plan ahead and meet up at a predetermined track. Unless they are doing a fighter drag, but that's a whole nother story.

Here is a map of the Air Refueling tracks. I personally have done 634, 625 high, and 601.

http://www.milaircomms.com/images/re...acks_large.jpg

D-AIHC · 01-05-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueangel_78

For more information about IFR, check this link out. It was given to me by a boomer some time back. Amazing detail and will answer all of your questions!

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueangel_78

Here is a map of the Air Refueling tracks. I personally have done 634, 625 high, and 601.

Thanks for the interesting links! I am no military pilot but those info are really interesting!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectre

I have a cool series of shots from the end of the runway right over my head when we were in S. Korea... I would love to get those fixed and uploaded.

Cool! We shall patiently await those scans!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectre

now, have to find out were the wife dumped them

Yep, it's always the wife!!!

corby78 · 01-05-2008, 07:10 PM

Blueangle is right. Also each track is "owned" by a squadron, so the scheduling shops will work with each other to plan the event. Some of the other guys can chime in too, but we normally use the same tracks over and over unless were going to some exercise farther away. For us 106 HE is getting old.

Rex · 01-05-2008, 07:31 PM

Very interesting stuff, Sir !

Mind to elaborate what exactly is 625 High,Is that something related to high altitude...? or high density ? *

And the " Refueling area boxes" are you confined to be in that area ? or you just follow the track ?

Thanks in advance. This is exciting to learn about.

corby78 · 01-05-2008, 11:58 PM

I am assuming your looking at the refueling track jpg. that blueangle posted. If you look up by North Dakota you will see 106H and 106L. In between is the line with dots on each end. that is the track, the H is for High altitute and L is for the Low altitute track below it. So you can multiple contacts on 106 at the same time. Forgive me I don't remember the altitude blocks for H and L. The "boxes" are for anchor air refueling where you set up an orbit and fly a track untill your done. When you hear someone say 625 high east. That means track 625, high altitude, heading east. hope that answers what you were asking.